Flowers
Prickly Poppy
This was a delightful find! This is a prickly poppy. I didn’t know this type of flower existed until I found this one by happenstance.
On our recent trip to Custer State Park in South Dakota, we had pulled over in the area of a small prairie dog town. As I was trying to get some good photos of the prairie dogs, I noticed this white flower. It was the only one in that area. I believe I found this particular bloom at its peak. We have poppies at our home in northeast Wisconsin but they are the large, redish-orange variety that have a very short blooming period in early spring. Finding this delicate white flower on a prickly plant blooming in late summer was a nice surprise.
From the little I was able to find online, the prickly poppy is a beautiful wildflower that lives for only one growing season. It grows naturally in sandy, dry areas. New plants grow from seed produced the previous year. The papery white flowers bloom throughout the summer. The plant has blue-green leaves and the stems are covered with sharp spines.
You can get a better view of the details in this flower image by clicking on the photo.
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Wild Bee on Wild Bergamot
The wild bergamot blooms seemed to be a favorite work site of the wild bees. This is another image gathered from our hike through the nature trail along Baird Creek in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
This was a difficult image to capture because the lighting was pretty dim and the bee wouldn’t hold still, but I do like the detail of the translucent wings.
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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Sweet Memorable Bouquet
This sweet, petite bouquet of flowers were found blooming on the banks of Baird Creek in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The whole group is not much bigger than the end of my thumb. These are commonly known as Forget-Me-Nots.
I learned that these flowers had an ancient Greek name (μυοσωτίς) that translates as “mouse’s ear” It is the official flower of Alaska. They are some of my favorite wildflowers to find, even though they are difficult to photograph well because of their diminutive size. Of course, I also think they are pleasantly pretty.
If you’d like to see a larger, more detailed version of this image (I recommend it) just click on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Wild Bergamot
We went hiking on one of the nature trails along Baird Creek in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At the very beginning of our walk we saw patches of this wild flower – Wild Bergamot. We’ve seen it in the woods before, but had to look it up for the name. It’s a pretty purple with a unique combination of petals and spikes. It also seemed pretty prolific.
There will be more photos from our Baird Creek hike. To see this one in a larger size, click on the photo and a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Blushing Blue Violet
This is a tiny wild violet. I found this…and many others…along a northeast Wisconsin woodland trail. I enjoy finding small treasures like this and zooming in to better see the intricate details.
If you rally want to see the intricate details, click on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Poppin’ Fresh
This is the first poppy bloom of our 2023 spring. My wife has a small patch of poppies in a flower bed next to our house. Every year they produce a beautiful, but short-lived display of bright orange blossoms. (It dropped its petals within 3 days.)
To view a larger, full screen version of this image, click on the photo. The detail of the flower’s center is well worth the click.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Queen of the Vines – Clematis
The Clematis may be best known for its large-flowering, purple, star-shape blossoms on twining vines. They are mainly of Chinese and Japanese origin. Clematis is a genus of about 300 species within the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae. Their garden hybrids are popular among gardeners.
I spotted these on a trip to Sunrise Farm in the Brussels, Wisconsin area. They are our supplier of choice for naturally raised meat. While stopping by to pick up a few things, we saw a large stunning display of these beauties growing alongside the house.
You can see a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Orange Poppy Down
One of the aspects I enjoy with photography is capturing different perspectives. This is an orange poppy that was drenched by an early morning rain. The rain pushed the bloom downward, leaving some moisture on the delicate, paper-like petals.
We have a few poppy plants in a flower bed next to our house that bloom every spring. The bloom doesn’t last nearly enough but they are quite lovely while they are showing. I’ve taken a lot of poppy picture over the years, but none quite like this. I particularly like the contrasting colors of vivid orange and green and the different perspective of this photo.
I encourage you to click on the photo to view a larger, more detailed version. It will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Graceful Spring Twins
I like taking walks with my camera. I was by myself, strolling along a rural backroad in central Ohio when I came upon a very small and very old cemetery. There were a lot of interesting old tombstones. I read and photographed a few. Then, off to the side of the plot, among some trees, there were these two daffodils. It was early spring and I saw not other flowers – wild or otherwise. I was very happy to find these two standing tall in the shadows.
If you are viewing this page on a large screen, you can view a more detailed version of this image by clicking on it.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Royal Throne
This monarch butterfly took a moment to rest and feed on the flowers provided by West of the Lake Gardens in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
These favorite photo subjects will be departing for central Mexico soon. I was able to grab a few butterfly and flower photos on a recent Saturday. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to share a few more of these in the near future.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.